John 14:1-14
Thousands trying to escape Sudan. Only a few can make it
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”
Russian missile barrage rains down on Kyiv
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”
Father whose wife and child were killed by neighbor recalls how massacre unfolded
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”
Grieving mother mourns daughter and grandson killed in Texas mass shooting
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”
Mississippi 19-year-old arrested for shooting that left 2 teens dead, 4 wounded
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”
Man arrested and charged with arson in mosque fires
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”
Atlanta mass shooting suspect charged with murder
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”
1 in 5 high school students have witnessed community violence according to CDC
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” Do not let your hearts be troubled…
Your news headlines from just this past week… How are your hearts?
In being one of our most popular scripture texts for funerals, I’ve preached on this weekend’s gospel more times than I can remember. Part of a much longer conversation from the Gospel of John, known as Jesus’ Farewell Discourse, we find Jesus preparing his disciples for his crucifixion. In response to their emotions around his unsettling news of his impending death – their fear and anxiety of what is to come – he turns from one disciple to another, attempting to console them.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”
Because Jesus is speaking to his disciples, plural, our English renderings of the text translate hearts in the plural. “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Though, as John records it in its’ original Greek, while Jesus’ disciples are plural… are many… they are to be of one heart… Not hearts plural, but rather heart singular.
“Do not let your heart be troubled.”
That, regardless of their worries around Jesus’ death to come. Of how they’ll go on without him by their side… Of how they’ll face the things of the world… Regardless of their differences and disagreements… They are to be of one heart – united in their pain and in their joy… in their mission…
A couple of weeks ago I attended an Ally Training event over at HACC, put on by Collaborating For Youth. The event lifted up some of the challenges facing our local youth and challenged participants to reflect on how to best support them – though not limited to, giving some special attention to the unique challenges of those youth who identify as LGBTQIA+. Here’s some information that was shared by the facilitators of the event:
- According to the CDC, suicide is now the second leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 10 and 24 across the U.S. – with LGBTQ youth more than four times as likely to seriously consider, make a plan for, and attempt suicide… with at least one attempt every 45 seconds.
- Here in Adams County, 44.8% of all students reported feeling sad or depressed MOST days in the past 12 months… Not just here and there… most days… With over 20% of all students having seriously considered suicide.
“Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”
As disciples of Christ, Jesus’ words in today’s gospel are spoken, not just to the twelve, but to us as well… Regardless of our differences and disagreements, our beliefs about the things of the world, we are to be of one heart… Our hearts linked together – grounded in the heart of Christ… in his love…
When people in other places of the world are surrounded by warfare and genocide, our hearts should break together. When more Americans are dying from gun-related injuries than ever recorded – with gun-related deaths among our children showing an increase of 50% from just a few years ago, our hearts should break together. When people who claim to follow Christ enact violence in His name on those who hold different beliefs, our hearts should break together. When our youth are regularly witnessing violence in their local community, feel sad or depressed on more days than not, and are left to feel as though they have no other choice than to leave this world behind by their own hand… our hearts should break together…
And together, bound together by our shared heart, we should respond with those works Christ calls us to.
“Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these…”
In timely fashion, I received an article the other day in my email written by Pastor Foltz. He shared, with a good bit of honesty, his experience with guns throughout his life… of their evolution… As a child they were there for hunting. As time went on, throughout his ministry, they transitioned more and more to a means of protection – in homes of parishioners, by their front door, under their pillows, on their person. A tool to protect, a right, a means to stop an enemy…
Regardless of the tool, be it a gun, our words, or something in between – Pastor Foltz reflects, that while we have become a world ready to “use violence against each other”, “Christianity believes all are redeemable.” “Rather than hate/kill the enemy, we are to love them.”
The truth of it is, the world is, more often than not, made up of news that troubles us… One where people, the faithful included, fail to live into the life that Christ calls us to. One where we inflict pain and death on others, instead of love and life. One where the Good News can be difficult to find amidst the bad…
Yet, as he did for the twelve shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus stands beside us through all of it – in the Word, in Baptism and Holy Communion, and in the faces of each other – and reminds us that in our troubles… we are never alone… For, together with all the faithful, we are of one heart… Not just one that breaks together because of the brokenness of our world, but one that consoles together as well… that cares for and supports… that stands together with good works in His name… that loves…
“Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me… I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do…”
Believe in God. Believe in Christ. Together, do not let your heart be troubled – believe and do the works Christ has done and calls you to do, trusting that you never go alone…
Share the Good News. Shine light into darkness. Turn the other cheek and forgive the sins of others. Comfort to those who mourn and those filled with fear. Care for the least and for the sick. Feed the hungry. Be an ally to those that the world has cast out. Give of what you have to those who have none. Welcome and embrace the stranger. Offer prayer. Be there for a friend in need and for an enemy as well. Bring new life. Rather than hate/kill… love… For all are redeemable… All are worthy… All are one…
“Do not let your hearts be troubled… Believe… I am the way, and the truth, and the life..”
Thanks be to God. Amen.
~Pastor Andrew Geib
Sermons at St. James Gettysburg 